Pressure container



Feb. 15, 1944.

A. H. HEINEMAN 2,341,547

PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 22, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v5.11/ fr)Z6/QQ. 2.

A. H. HEINEMAN PRESSURE CONTAINER Feb. 15, 1944.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1941 Feb. 15, 1944. A. H. HEINEMAN2,341,547,

PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 22, 1941y 4 sheets-sheet s Patente Feb.l5,

2,341,541 PRESSURE CONTAINER Arnold H. Heineman, Birmingham, Ala.,assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, a. corporation of IllinoisApplication January 22, 1941, Serial No. 375,491

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in pressure containers or tanksand more especially to such a container built of sheet metal.

My invention is especially adapted for use in connection withunderground tanks and is so illustrated in this specification.

Among the features of my invention is the making of such a tank capableof withstanding considerable internal pressure bothpositive and minus.The tank is also so constructed that considerable earth loads may beborne. Another feature of my invention is the provision of such a tankmade out of plates that are either iiat or bent in one plane only. Theexpense of shaping plates to double curvature is therefore avoided. l

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view witha portion of the top cut away; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with aportion of the wall cut away; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary verticalsectional view; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the posts;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing a modiedform; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another modification;Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another modification; andFigs. 8-13 are diagrammatic vertical sectional views showing additionalmodifications;

As shown ln the drawings; the tank includes a circular substantiallyflat top I and a circular substantially iiat bottom II of considerablearea connected at points spaced throughout the areas bystructural postsI2 to secure the same against displacement. Such a tank, for example,may

` be 10 Vfeet or more high and have a diameter from 50 to 10o-,feet togive the same a capacity of from approximately 2,500 barrels toapproximately 13,000 barrels or more. The spacing of the posts I2 willdepend upon the pressure to be carried'. ForJ example. they may bespaced froml each other 2 feet, more or less.

The sidewall ofthe tank is circular in horiv'z ontal cross-*sectionandis formed of two or more frusta. of cones. In the construction of Figs.1-4

1 there arel foursuch frusta, namely I3, I4, I5 and I,`counting from thetop downwardly. 'I'he upper two taper downwardly and inwardly whereasthe lower two taper downwardly and outwardly. In the modied form shown`in Fig. the side wall comprises only two such frusta,

namely an upper Ila tapering downwardly and inwardly and a lower IIStapering downwardly and outwardly.

If desired, there may be provided at intervals outside of the tank,bracing plates l1 with their inner edges connected to the side wall andprovided with an outer straight edge extending from the periphery of thetop to the periphery of the bottom. This straight edge is preferablybraced with an angle-iron IIa. A similar bracing plate is indicated inthe modified form of Fig. 5 by I I1.

The construction of the posts I2 forms no part of the present inventionbut I have here shown them as made of angle-irons so that the completepost. is narrowed somewhat at the center to resemble the shape of anhour glass. The posts are welded at their upper and lower ends to thetop and bottom, respectively, so that they will withstand bothcompression and tension. The plates I1 and III are also welded at theirinner edges to the side wall. In fact, it is to be understood that alladjacent parts are suitably attached as by welding or in any othersuitable manner in order to make a rigid construction.

It is also to be understood that the frusta of cones forming the sidewall may convex outwardly instead of concaving inwardly as shown. Suchconstruction is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6. In such case abracing plate may be placed inside. For example, as shown in Fig. 6.

the. top is indicated by 2I0, the bottom by 2II and the frusta of conesforming the side wall by 2I3, 2M, 2I5 and 2I8, respectively. Inside ofthe tank is a post 2I2 similar to the post I2. One oi the bracing platesinside of the tank similar to the plate I1 is indicated by 2I1 and thishas its straight edge reinforced by angleirons2l'la.

The modification shown in Fig. 'l resembles that shown in Fig. 6 exceptthat the side wall is composed of two frusta of cones instead of four.Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numeralsaugmented by |00.

I n Fig. 8 I have suggested a form employing one or more cylindricalsections with one or more frusta of cones. As here shown, there arethree courses, the middle 4H being cylindrical, the upper 4I3 being afrustum of a cone and the lower M6 being also a frustum of a cone. Thetop is indicated by 4I0 and the bottom by 4I I. As here shown, I employinternal stiffener plates 4I'I.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a tank similar to that shown in Fig. 3 exceptthat instead of using external stiiiening plates. I employ horizontalstiiieners Ill on the outside of the tank. As

here shown, these stiil'ening rings are located at the intersections oi'the frusta; although it is obvious that they may be placed at otherpoints on each course. These sti'eners may be either plates or shapes.

It is to be understood that in all cases bracing plates may or may notbe used and may be placed either inside or outside of the tank or both.

In Figs. 10-12 I have shown profile diagrammatic sketches indicatingseveral alternative constructions all of which utilize the polyconicprinciple to gain stillness in the shell. In Fig. 11 the courses arejoined by horizontal stiileners tl'l.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a shell with no conical surfaces at all butemploying merely a series oi' cylindrical courses of different diametersoiI- set from each other by the horizontal stifl'ening members lll.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments oi my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view oi.' theprior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure byl Letters Patent, is:

A sheet metal pressure t\ank, comprising: a l

side wall formed of frusta of cones axially ar. ranged andcircumferentially connected together in superimposed relation, saidupper v frusta oi' cones tapering downwardly andinwardiy and said lowerfrusta oi cones tapering upwardly and inwardly; and a substantially nattop and bottom.

ARNOLD H. HEINEMAN.

